What to do if you suspect someone has swallowed or inserted a button battery?
Did you know that if swallowed, button batteries can cause severe internal burns. Find out who to call for help if you suspect someone has swallowed a button battery
Button battery safety
Small round batteries are commonly called button, coin or disc batteries because of their appearance. These small shiny batteries are very attractive to inquisitive children and it can take just a split second for a child to swallow one.
New safety standards for button batteries and products containing button batteries were made mandatory across Australia on 22 June 2022.
More than one child a month in Australia is seriously injured after swallowing or inserting button batteries. Injuries include severe internal burns through the oesophagus, stomach, bowel or even inside the ear or nostril if inserted. This damage can happen in just 1 hour and can be fatal. Unfortunately three young children in Australia have tragically
died as a result of swallowing button batteries.
If you think your child or any person has swallowed or inserted a button battery, don’t wait for them to show symptoms. You need to take urgent action. Immediately call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for expert advice on what to do. If the person is choking or has collapsed, stopped breathing, or is having a fit phone 000 for an ambulance.
